The petition states Shemwell has not upheld his oath to office, has violated the city charter and has disregarded the city’s ethics code. The petition also states he has made inflammatory statements about the city and been arrested on multiple occasions while serving as a council member.
The petition needed 2,127 signatures of registered McKinney voters to prompt a recall election. This number is determined by how many residents voted in the last general election.
The petition had a total of 3,347 total signatures, including 3,083 that were on the Nov. 4 voter registration list, Williams said. The deadline to turn the petition in was Jan. 4, but Williams said it was turned in early because it was finished.
Williams said she thought the petition was needed because of “the damage his actions, words and behavior is causing the community.”
Shemwell could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I came to do what people elected me to do ... to be the voice for the voiceless,” Shemwell said at a Dec. 16 town hall meeting at which he addressed the recall efforts.
Shemwell was elected to represent District 1 in a June 2017 runoff. He is the second African American ever to be elected to the council, according to his biography on the city's website.
McKinney Mayor George Fuller stated in a news release issued Dec. 27 that he wanted residents to know he signed the petition.
"I did so because I strongly believe Shemwell's actions have been detrimental to our community and I fear he will continue the same behavior as long as he on Council," Fuller wrote. "I believe his actions have been calculated and deliberate, in pursuit of a personal agenda, not one of serving the community."
The city must verify that the petition has enough valid signatures from registered McKinney voters. If it is verified, the council will give Shemwell the opportunity to step down from his position. If he chooses not to, the council could vote to add a recall election to the May ballot, according to the city secretary. The council could also call a special meeting at any time to hold that vote.
Editor's note: The original post has been edited to remove errors. Shemwell received more than 57% of the votes in the June 2017 runoff against a single opponent. The deadline for the city to verify signatures was also taken out.
